Method and device for machining parts

ABSTRACT

At least one machine tool, preferably two machine tools ( 1, 2 ) is or are provided for the production of workpieces, or for the complete production of complex workparts, which machine tools each have a basic body ( 3, 4 ) and machine units ( 7, 8 ) movable in the horizontal direction thereon. Each machine unit has a work spindle ( 13, 14 ) which is supported displaceably in the axial direction of the spindle in a carrier ( 11, 12 ) of crankshaft-like design. The carrier is mounted pivotably and supports each work spindle above a respective transport system ( 31, 32 ) for a workpiece or the workparts ( 37, 38 ). Machining devices, for example in the form of a tool carrier ( 44 ) for turning, drilling and/or milling tools, a laser-welding device ( 46 ), a grinding device ( 47 ) and a brushing device ( 48 ), and also an apparatus for joining, are provided in the functional area of one of these machine tools.

[0001] The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for theproduction of workpieces, in particular for the complete production ofcomplex workparts.

[0002] For the manufacture of workpieces, in particular workpieces withdifferent successive machining steps, it has hitherto been necessary torechuck the workpieces for the individual machining steps or, ifappropriate, to transfer them to another machine tool, which increasesthe amount of work involved and is detrimental to precision.

[0003] For the manufacture of complex workparts, in other wordsassemblies made up of several parts, it is known to form the blanks ofthese workparts from a starting material by primary forming orreforming, so as then, via the procedural steps of separating, joining,coating and the operation for changing material properties, to bringabout the final state and the material properties necessary for this. Inthis connection, special equipment in the form of machine tools is usedfor each of these procedural steps. The interlinking of the workoperations on the individual machines is in this connection performedmanually or automatically. In the case of manual linking, the amount ofwork involved is considerable, and, in the case of automatic linking,production lines with a considerable space requirement are frequentlynecessary.

[0004] It is an object of the invention to simplify production ofworkpieces and complete production of complex workparts with regard toboth the amount of work involved and the space requirement of themachines to be used.

[0005] According to the invention, this object is achieved in a methodfor the production of workpieces by virtue of the fact that differentmachining devices can be used in the functional area of at least onemultifunctional machine tool and the workpieces to be produced arebrought into the most favorable position for machining by means of amachine unit with a work spindle of the machine tool, which spindle ispivotable and works according to the pick-up principle.

[0006] With regard to a method for the complete production of complexworkparts, the object is achieved according to the invention by virtueof the fact that different machining devices can be used in thefunctional area of at least one multifunctional machine tool and theworkparts to be produced, consisting of at least two workpieces, arebrought into the most favorable position for the machining concerned bymeans of a machine unit with a work spindle of the machine tool, whichspindle is pivotable and works according to the pick-up principle.

[0007] In this connection, a multifunctional machine tool is a machinein which, on account of the characteristics described, namely thepossibility of working according to the pick-up principle and thepivotable arrangement of the work spindle, a workpiece, or an alreadyassembled workpart, can be subjected to the most varied machiningoperations in very different positions. By virtue of the use of such amultifunctional machine tool, it is possible to bring the part to bemachined into the most favorable position for the machining concerned.This is especially advantageous for the reason that, in this way, themachining devices can be designed simply and can also be used in asimple manner in the functional area of this machine tool, whichencompasses both the stationary arrangement of such machining devices inthe functional area of the machine tool and the movable use of suchmachining devices. It is likewise possible to design the work sequencemore favorably.

[0008] According to the invention, an apparatus for the production ofworkpieces, in particular those in which several consecutive work stepsare necessary, or for the complete production of complex workparts,which apparatus can serve in particular for implementing the methodsexplained above, is characterized in that it has at least onemultifunctional machine tool with a machine unit comprising a workspindle which is supported displaceably in the axial direction of thespindle, in a pivotably mounted carrier, for implementing the pick-upprinciple, in that the machine unit is arranged above a transport systemfor the workparts or workpieces and machining devices for theworkpieces, and in that the machining devices are designed so as to beusable in the functional area of the work spindle.

[0009] In this connection, the work devices can be arranged in astationary manner in the functional area of the machine tool or,according to another embodiment, the machining devices can be designedso as to be movable into the functional area of the machine tool.

[0010] According to a further embodiment of the invention, each machineunit can be moved in the horizontal direction transversely to thepivoting axis of the carrier for the work spindle. This embodimentwidens considerably the applicability of the machine tool, the effect ofthis advantage being greater still in the variant with the machiningdevices which can be moved into the functional area of the machine tool.

[0011] A space-saving embodiment of the machine tool is achieved byvirtue of the fact that the work spindle is designed as a motor spindle.

[0012] A further embodiment of the invention, which consists in that thepivotably mounted carrier for the work spindle is of crankshaft-likedesign, is especially advantageous. This embodiment is particularlyadvantageous if the crank part is, in the vertical position of the workspindle, located above the bearing part of the carrier, because anespecially high working area is then available under the work spindle.

[0013] An embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention whichcan find widespread application consists in that one machining device isdesigned as a tool carrier for receiving turning, drilling and/ormilling tools. In this way, the most varied types of chip-removingmachining of a workpiece or of an already assembled workpart can becarried out.

[0014] One machining device can furthermore be a grinding device.

[0015] An advantageous embodiment consists in that one machining deviceis a holding and positioning device for one of the parts to be joinedtogether of a complex part to be manufactured and the work spindle,holding another part, serves for carrying out a joining operation orpressing operation. In this way, at least two parts of a complexworkpart can be joined together within the functional area of themachine tool.

[0016] In order for it to be possible in addition, after a joiningoperation, for the individual parts of a complex part to beinterconnected rigidly or for one of the parts to be hardened, it isadvantageous if one machining device comprises a laser-welding device orlaser-hardening device, as the connection operations and hardeningoperations can be carried out within the functional area of the machinetool, for which purpose it was hitherto necessary to produce theindividual parts on very different machine tools.

[0017] It is also in accordance with the concentration of the variousmachining operations in the functional area of the machine tool if onemachining device is a brushing device, so that the tools can be cleaned,for example after welding or hardening.

[0018] If the work spindle is also involved in a pressing operation inaddition to a joining operation, it is advantageous, on account of thegreat forces arising in the process, which act on the bearingarrangement of the work spindle, if the work spindle can be clampedfirmly in its carrier. In this way, it is possible to keep the greatforces arising during the pressing operation away from the bearings ofthe work spindle. During the pressing operation, it is then necessary toprovide the transport system with special devices, in order that thecounterpressure can be taken up.

[0019] The machining possibilities in both the production of workpiecesand the complete production of complex workparts can be increased byvirtue of the arrangement of two machine tools. In the event of thearrangement of two machine tools, it can be advantageous if the basicbodies for receiving the movable machine units are arranged so as to beseparate from one another with regard to the transmission of vibrations.

[0020] The invention is explained in greater detail below by means of adiagrammatically represented illustrative embodiment of an apparatus forthe complete production of complex workparts. In the drawing:

[0021]FIG. 1 shows a front view of an apparatus with two machine toolsin different positions of the machine units of the machine toolsconcerned;

[0022]FIG. 2 shows an illustration corresponding to FIG. 1 with machineunits pivoted into the horizontal position;

[0023]FIG. 3 shows an end view of the apparatus with the machine unitpositioned vertically, and

[0024]FIG. 4 shows a top view of an apparatus according to FIGS. 1 and2, the left machine unit having been omitted.

[0025] An apparatus for the production of workpieces or for the completeproduction of complex workparts, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4,comprises two machine tools 1 and 2 which each have a basic body 3 and4, which bodies are separate from one another from the point of view ofvibration. On each basic body, a guide track 5 and, respectively, 6 isprovided for the horizontal movement of in each case a machine unit 7and, respectively, 8. Each machine unit 7, 8 comprises a slide 9 and,respectively, 10 which is movable on the guide track 5 or 6 assigned ineach case, and, mounted pivotably on this slide, a carrier 11 and,respectively, 12 for in each case a work spindle 13 and, respectively,14. In principle, however, it is also possible for only one machine toolwith two machine units on a common basic body to be provided.

[0026] The carrier 11, 12 for each work spindle 13 and, respectively, 14is of crankshaft-like design and comprises a crank part 15, side cheeks16, 17 and bearing journals 18, 19 which are supported pivotably inbearings 20, 21. By virtue of this carrier design, it is possible topivot the machine unit 7 or 8 into any position, from the verticalposition to the horizontal position. As can be seen in particular fromFIG. 3, which shows an elevation of such a carrier 11, an advantageousembodiment is achieved by virtue of the fact that the crank part 15,which receives the work spindles 13 or 14, is, in the vertical positionof the work spindle, located above the bearings 20, 21, so that arelatively high working area remains under the work spindle.

[0027] As can be seen especially clearly from FIG. 3, the basic body 3or 4 of each machine tool is of U-shaped design in cross section, thebase part 3.1 being designed in the form of a trough conveyor for thechips generated, while the two upwardly directed legs 3.2 and 3.3 are ofdifferent length and bear, on their top side, guide rails 5.1 and,respectively, 5.2 of the guide track designated as a whole by 5. Restingon these guide rails are in total four guide carriages 22.1 to 22.4, ofwhich only the guide carriages 22.1 and 22.2 can be observed in FIG. 3and the guide carriages 22.1 and 22.4 can be observed in FIG. 1. Theseare in each case arranged on a slide 9 and, respectively, 10 and servefor displacement of the same in the horizontal direction. For displacingthe slides 9 and 10, appropriate drives 23 and, respectively, 24 areprovided, which in each case comprise a servomotor 25 and, respectively,26, a ball screw spindle 27 and, respectively, 28 and a correspondingnut 29 and, respectively, 30, which are received in a holdingarrangement 31 and, respectively, 32 of the slide 9 or 10 concerned.

[0028] Each machine tool is assigned a transport system 31, 32, whichsystems are arranged in an L-shape in a mirror-inverted manner inrelation to one another. The long legs of the L-shaped transport system31, 32 are in each case located under the guide tracks 5 and,respectively, 6 and are designated by 33 and, respectively, 34. Theshort legs 35, 36, which are arranged transversely to the guide tracks,serve for receiving the individual workpieces, which can then betransported into the functional area of the machine tool concerned. Ascan be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, a workpart consisting of two parts 37and 38 is provided on each transport system, which workparts can betransferred from the transport systems 31, 32 concerned onto a conveyorbelt 39 situated between the long legs 33 and 34, in particular by meansof the work spindle 13 or 14, which is supported displaceably in theaxial direction of the spindle and can consequently work according tothe pick-up principle. It can be seen from FIG. 4 that the work spindle14 is guided displaceably in the axial direction of the spindle by meansof two guides 40 and 41 and that two symmetrically arranged ball screwspindles 42 and 43 serve for the displacement. The same guide and drivearrangement is also provided for the work spindle 13.

[0029] Various machining devices are provided in the functional area ofthe individual machine tools 1 and 2. Thus, in FIG. 1, for example, atool carrier, which carries a turning tool 45, is indicateddiagrammatically and provided with the reference number 44. This toolcarrier can be designed as, for example, a tool turret and hold variousturning, drilling and milling tools in a rigid or driven manner.Reference number 46 designates a laser-welding or laser-hardening devicewhich serves for welding the two parts 37 and 38 together or forhardening a further part still to be applied. Reference number 47designates a grinding device and 48 designates a brushing device forfurther machining operations. An apparatus for joining parts is notillustrated. All these machining devices, which are indicated only byway of example, can be either arranged in a stationary manner ordesigned so as to be movable, according to the requirements of themachining operations to be carried out.

1. A method for the production of workpieces, wherein differentmachining devices can be used in the functional area of at least onemultifunctional machine tool and the workpieces to be produced arebrought into the most favorable position for the machining concerned bymeans of a machine unit with a work spindle of the machine tool, whichspindle is pivotable and works according to the pick-up principle.
 2. Amethod for the complete production of complex workparts, whereindifferent machining devices can be used in the functional area of atleast one multifunctional machine tool and the workparts to be produced,consisting of at least two workpieces, are brought into the mostfavorable position for the machining concerned by means of a machineunit with a work spindle of the machine tool, which spindle is pivotableand works according to the pick-up principle.
 3. An apparatus for thecomplete production of complex workparts, which has at least onemultifunctional machine tool (1, 2) with a machine unit (7, 8)comprising a work spindle (13, 14) which is supported displaceably inthe axial direction of the spindle, in a pivotably mounted carrier (7,8), for implementing the pick-up principle, wherein the machine unit (7,8) is arranged above a transport system (31, 32) for the workparts (37,38) or workpieces and machining devices (44, 45; 46; 47; 48), andwherein the machining devices (44, 45, 46, 47, 48) are designed so as tobe usable in the functional area of the work spindle (13, 14).
 4. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the machining devices (44 to48) are arranged in a stationary manner in the functional area of themachine tool (1, 2).
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein themachining devices (44 to 48) are designed so as to be movable into thefunctional area of the machine tool (1, 2).
 6. The apparatus as claimedin one of claims 3 to 5, wherein each machine unit (7, 8) can be movedin the horizontal direction transversely to the pivoting axis of thecarrier (11, 12) for the work spindle (13, 14).
 7. The apparatus asclaimed in one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the work spindle (13, 14) isdesigned as a motor spindle.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in one ofclaims 3 to 7, wherein the pivotably mounted carrier (11, 12) for thework spindle (13, 14) is of crankshaft-like design.
 9. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 8, wherein the crank part (15) is, in the verticalposition of the work spindle (13, 14), located above the bearing part(20, 21) of the carrier (11, 12).
 10. The apparatus as claimed in one ofclaims 3 to 9, wherein one machining device is designed as a toolcarrier (44) for receiving turning, drilling and/or milling tools (45).11. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 3 to 9, wherein onemachining device is a grinding device (47).
 12. The apparatus as claimedin one of claims 3 to 9, wherein one machining device is a holding andpositioning device for one of the parts to be joined together of acomplex part (37, 38) to be manufactured and the work spindle (13, 14),holding another part, serves for carrying out a joining operation orpressing operation.
 13. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 3 to9, wherein one machining device is a laser-welding device orlaser-hardening device (46).
 14. The apparatus as claimed in one ofclaims 3 to 9, wherein one machining device is a brushing device (48).15. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 3 to 14, wherein the workspindle (13, 14) can be clamped firmly in its carrier (11, 12).
 16. Theapparatus as claimed in one of claims 3 to 15, wherein, in the event ofthe arrangement of two machine tools (1, 2), the basic bodies (3, 4) forreceiving the movable machine units (7, 8) are arranged so as to beseparate from one another with regard to the transmission of vibrations.